Recent Floods

Thank you so much to everyone who has emailed checking to see if we are okay after the recent floods were reported to have had The Rock and parts of Wagga evacuated.  We live high on a hill and only suffered ceilings leaking and a few minor things. We did lose all our fencing in the bottom paddocks since we border Burke's Creek which did all the damage in The Rock township. I missed all the drama since I was in USA at the time, but a friend staying at our house took some photos to show me upon my return. 

Photo above shows the lower section of our property, completely flooded to levels never before experienced. Wouldn't like to estimate the depth, but the creek bottom is usually a dry bed carved out at least the height of a house, so this was full and overflowing into surrounding paddocks becoming a raging river.
Lost all the fencing but no stock lost and our hayshed came just so close to being affected.  We are indeed lucky.  Hearts go out to all others not so fortunate.  Including my own nephew who lives at Grong Grong - he lost sheep, haystack, feed, fences and was isolated as an island for a few days, using a boat to get in and out of their house.  They showed this photo of the railway line cut not far from their house.

On a brighter side, Hunter had his 4th Birthday on St. Patrick's Day and we attended a family party for him.  Hit of the presents was a Wii racing car game, screened on the TV, but with the child driving a "real" car (blown up plastic car) using the steering wheel to race the opponent, Grandpa sitting on the couch!
Yes, Hunter is a Ben 10 fan too!

Keeping in family matters, allow me to introduce you to a new business venture by my Great Niece, Kirby Gawne who has completed a course on Cake Decorating and loved it so much that she is now taking orders via her business called "Gawne to Heaven".  Everybody LOVES Cupcakes, we know, but these are too scrumptious to even consider eating.  You may view her range on her Facebook page.  She now lives in Wagga, not far from us at all, so if  you live closeby and you'd ever like to place an order for a special occasion send me an email and I'll have her contact you.  Kirby is attending Uni and does these in her spare time.  Aren't they fabulous?

http://www.facebook.com/GawneToHeavenCakesAndCupcakes

Here are some Kirby made for a Baby Shower.

This week Punch with Judy is attending the Craft and Sewing Show at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre in Southbank.  Hope to catch up with many of you during the four days, Thursday to Sunday 10.00a to 4.30pm daily.  We are on Stand A09, very close to the Restyle Studio where I will be showing you how to revamp last year's T-Shirts into this year's fashion - two sessions - at 1.00pm and 2.00pm.  I will also be interviewed on Rockhampton Radio about this feature of the show, on Thursday if you are in that area.

I have lots of ideas to share with you and will be offering a bargain priced Restyle Studio Show Bag containing all the products I'll be demonstrating to give your wardrobe a fantastic new look for so little money.  One such garment restyled will be using Grommets, seen many a time in home decorating for curtains and recently for bags, but now for clothing too!

SEE YOU AT THE CRAFT AND SEWING SHOW! 

Sewing & Stitchery Expo, Puyallup, Washington, USA

Referred to as "the biggest sewing party in America", I am fortunate to be attending one of my favourite shows, the Sewing Expo just outside Seattle in USA.  I have attended the first three days of the show but have been unable to download photos I've taken until now.  Apologies, as many were expecting to follow me in my travels each day.

The Sewing & Stitchery Expo is the largest consumer sewing show in USA offering four days of sewing techniques, project seminars, hands-on workshops, professional fashion parades and exciting evening special events.
This Show has more sewing, dressmaking, patterns and the like than any other. This is my fourth time here (maybe fifth?) and I just love the atmosphere. It has the best sewing education and inspirational classes ranging from basic sewing to advanced techniques covering topics in fashion sewing and quilting.

Above shows the entrance to one of the two main pavilions and the other shows visitors queing up to attend a seminar in yet another building.  Aren't you glad you have everything under one roof at shows in Australia?  Snow was predicted in Seattle this week, but we've been fortunate to have not experienced such during the show.  I've been surprised that the weather has been as good as it has actually, though I know it looks bleak in the images.
The Show has had more visitors each day as the Show progresses and is entirely different in display to our Shows at home.  Here is an image of an aisle, taken at random, giving you an idea of stand structure compared to ours.  Please note this was taken near closing time so ignore the few people standing around.  It has been busy!

There's a great buzz around the hall and visitors are here for a good time - all very friendly and enjoying a girls' outing together.  Have noticed quite a large number of male attendees too though. 

If you had tired feet and needed a rest, there are chairs provided at the entrance to the ShowPlex Pavilion which I will not describe, other than to say that this word in America refers to your bottom (butt, rear, backside)!

If you get a headache during the Show, they have a good remedy which I've not seen before, so knowing me, I HAD to have some!  Hope you can make out both sides our our heads as the scissors get a little lost in the background.  So examine the photo closely again!  The scissors really do go right through the head, thus a great remedy for that headache!

Now if you wish to update your old sewing machine, simply give it a "paint job".  I doubt if I could work on a machine with all that distraction though.  Claire Rowley from Creative Sewing Feet actually gives classes on how to personalize your own sewing machine in a similar manner.  Not for me!  I do love the products she has invented though, which we sell, of course.

I know I have readers all over the world, but for those in Australia, to all those who've emailed me re the floods and it being on the news that some in our little township of The Rock have been evacuated, we live on high ground and other than buckets being required in my office and in the mailroom, we are fine.  I do appreciate your concerns.  I am unable to send many emails from the hotel where I am staying because there seems to be a block on emails to hotmail and gmail addresses, so please understand if you don't receive an acknowledgement of thanks.  John has no power at home this evening and is using a generator.  I am sure he would have moved all sheep to high ground and the emus are fine too.  Burke's Creek which is giving the flooding in the township, also runs along our property, so I imagine our bottom paddocks will be flooded and the fences washed away again in the force of the water.  Please don't worry about us, he's fine.  My thoughts to all who are troubled with flood waters in ALL States as it is very wide spread.  Also to the poor souls experiencing the horrendous tornedos here in USA or from the heavy snowstorms. 

For those in Sydney and surrounds, I know you've had heavy rain this week too, but do come and visit the Craft and Sewing Show being held at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney this week from Thursday 8th March until Sunday 11th March.  We are on Stand A03.  Remember there's FREE parking and lots of exciting new things to see.  Full details in my last Newsletter or visit http://www.craftandsew.com.au/

January Lucky Draw Winners

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF OUR JANUARY LUCKY DRAW

Three lucky people have won a SPENDING SPREE on ANY items throughout the entire website for participating in our January Website’s 11th Birthday Celebrations.  Thank you to everyone for sharing the fun and frivolity for the whole month of January, day by day.

CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS!
1st Prize of $150.00 Rosemary Goulding, Vic
2nd Prize of $100.00 Jill Henderson, Vic
3rd Prize of $50.00 Elizabeth DiBlasio, NSW

We have now started collating the orders and mailing them out.  It will take a while, so please email me if you need your goodies for our Online Classes that have already commenced or if you need your order quickly.  Otherwise, please be patient with us as we have a mammoth task ahead of us this month.  My wonderful staff are working extra hours to try and have everything finalized before I leave for a trip to USA, catching up with friends whilst looking for new products and ideas to share with you.

A new "INTO CRAFT" Newsletter has been published and my regular column "Nifty Notions" in this issue is discussing different ways of taking up hems, particularly for school clothing now that kids are back at school.  I hope you enjoy the reading (with a little humour) and appreciate the hints, tips, projects and ideas in all the articles presented.

Sew Daily recently published a different way of cutting bias strips, giving credit to John the Slipcover Guy and they have kindly given permission to me to publish it for discussion.  I certainly appreciate their co-operation.  Please post your comments.

I want to share his brilliant method for cutting bias strips lickety-split:

1. Cut a good-sized square of the fabric you want to use to make bias strips. I use the entire width of the fabric.

2. Fold the fabric in half, matching two opposite corners, like a napkin.

3. Bring each lower corner to the centre, so that they are overlapping and your fabric now resembles an envelope.

4. Fold the fabric in half again, bringing the right side to the left. Your fabric now looks like half of a house.

5. Cut perpendicular to the last fold, cutting across in strips. When you unfold the strips, they will be on the bias. Tada!

What do you think?

Note:  Cut the bias strips (horizontal in this picture)
commencing from the lower edge shown here.

I add this because the first time I cut I used the diagonal top edge shown here as my guide and cut them parallel to it.  Drrrr.  Result? Ziz-zag strips!  Just as well I was only playing around with a folded serviette to trial the idea!

Don't forget our Online Classes have commenced and also mark your calendar for the Shows you wish to attend this year - we're into the swing of it already!

Happy Australia Day

In my Australia Day Newsletter I gave details of a wonderful local Mum, Sarah Mycroft, who became the first woman to run, yes, literally run, around Australia.  Do you receive my Newsletters? 

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!  Our local Shire held celebrations at The Rock, my home town, so I enjoyed the morning in the heat watching the presentations and being an AUSSIE with the normal damper, egg and sausage brekky.

It's always a lot of fun, normally hot and dry like it was today, so everyone is also thirsty - good excuse.

Today was no exception so thought you may enjoy some country small town celebrations. 

Our future - small children playing with their Aussie Flags.

The presentation platform on a hired truck is behind the marquee tent.

Another view where the food was being offered.

Because it is AUSTRALIA DAY, allow me to brag about some MADE IN AUSTRALIA products!  Three of our grandchildren attended school formals towards the end of 2011 and we're proud of them.

Kirsten is 18 and about to enter Wollongong Uni for Nursing.  Nicholas is 17 and attending Albury High.

Courtney is 16 (the one in blue) and attending St. Johns in Nowra on the South Coast of NSW. 

My regulars have followed these youngsters growing up over the years!

The girls' Jack Russell pet, Mollie, gave birth to some puppies a fortnight ago and today youngest Grandson, Hunter, was visiting them and the look on his face tells it all!

Hope you don't mind me indulging on a special day like today is!

Westalee Patchwork Online Classes

The year is starting to get into full swing with many now returning from Annual Holidays and I've been busy planning 2012 with new Online Classes to offer you.

One of our most popular Online Classes held in 2011 was most definitely the Westalee Mystery Sampler Quilt and another commences on 1st February 2012; enrollments and pre class communications are in progress now, if you'd like to consider joining us.  Many past students wanted to continue, so I am proud to announce an "exclusive to Punch with Judy" course commencing on 15th February 2012 from Westalee Design Rulers.

The "Westalee Constellation Quilt" will certainly give you more than first meets the eye as the classes will also include a second quilt using the Constellation Series plus fabulous new ideas for the Double Wedding Ring and Dresden Plate - old favourites.  I'm so excited about what we have in this course and it's only $30.00 for the whole 10 lessons - that's total, not each lesson!

Of course, other Online Classes commence in the following months and you may consider any of those here including Punchneedle Embroidery, Pleat Maker and Curve Master - all repeat Online Classes.

If you don't know how Online Classes are presented, you may wish to attend our first WEBINAR to be announced shortly.  Read about what a Webinar is here.

Have you visited my website this week?  Tell me what you think of our new Home Page and Shop Page?  Tried to make it a little more compact so as you could see things at a glance. 

Would appreciate your comments.

Don't forget to visit EVERY day during January to see what the daily special offer is during our JANUARY WEBSITE'S 11TH BIRTHDAY SALE.  There have been some fabulous bargains and more to come! 

ENJOY! My way of saying THANK YOU for being loyal customers.

New Year's Eve

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my bloggers!

Another great year to look forward to. 

May I extend Best Wishes to everyone.

HEALTH, WEALTH & PROSPERITY.

2012 was ushered in at our house by the female members of the family because ALL the males were in bed before the clock struck 12!  Grandsons had gone "out celebrating" with their mates, but our Granddaughters livened the place up with their antics.

This is "before" and the following is "after" the lights went out!

Their luminous hats and glasses glowed in the dark.

They had so much fun with these. Purchased in a packet and they had to make them up.

As all teenagers do today, communicate with friends via Facebook - one of them told "city" friends they were celebrating at Grandma's & Grandpa's emu farm - what a hoot!  Friend said "kiss an emu for me"!  Jasmine and Ashleigh decided to take up the challenge and went down the paddock in the dark with camera ready to do just that.  Naturally, the emus weren't interested but the giggles of these two in the paddock in the dark soon changed as "Midge" heard them and came bolting up frightening the living daylights out of them.  So, they settled for the next best - sending their friends via Facebook a photo of Jasmine kissing a sheep (Midge) for New Year!

A little blurry because I think Ashleigh (photographer) was still shaking, either with laughter or fright???

Was delightful having them all present for such an occasion.  

Hope yours was as full of laughter as ours was.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

Last Days of 2011

As we near the end of 2011, we are most fortunate to be spending these days with our entire family.  Our three children and all our grandchildren are visiting for a few days.
We enjoyed a barbeque and sharing of gifts with much fun, laughter, jokes, teasing, sharing stories and recent experiences.  We discussed solutions to the Nation's problems but also appreciated gratitude for our well-being and togetherness as a family.
My apologies to Jasmine who was "behind" some of her cousins in this snap, but wanted to share our family with you.

The age of technology and what most grandchildren are brought up with as second nature to their daily lives.  Hunter (3) and Nick (17 tomorrow) share games on iPADS.

We have enjoyed walks, games, tending to animals, riding the quad bikes and trying to catch a Yabbie. "Midge" (a sheep I bottle-fed) delighted all by joining in accepting lots of attention and a few slices of bread.
Farmer John "conned" some into helping mark lambs!
Kirsten and Courtney had to catch them, pass them on to Rowan, John did the "nasties" and Ashleigh painted them with "medicine".  Hunter and I just watched - someone has to supervise and someone has to be the photographer!

I hope you enjoy reading my Happy New Year Newsletter including my Year in Review.  You may subscribe on my website.  More tomorrow as 2012 begins!

Don't Forget!  Our January 11th Website's Birthday Sale begins tomorrow!  A new special daily, so you must check each day and order each day, don't pop things into your Wish List.  Check here for full details.